How do I thin paint for use in a low pressure sprayer?
Answers:
hiya selfmade...
you didn't mention whether you're using an oil-based or water-borne product...and you didn't mention if the gun was spraying, just not properly atomizing the product or if it's not drawing any paint at all...
if it's latex (acrylic, vinyl, pva, vinyl-acrylic blend), thin with water at a rate of up to 1 pint water per gallon of latex. another product to use (mentioned earlier) is a flow and leveling agent called "floetrol" (a blend of chemical soap, glycol and water) which makes for much easier spraying but will slow down the dry time...
if you're using an oil-based product, you won't get much help from the manufacturer because of v.o.c. regulations. they can't tell you what, or how much to thin your product 'cause the addition of any solvent would probably knock it out of v.o.c. compliancy. the trick is to read the product data sheet and see what solvent they recommend for cleaning equipment - that's the product you'll want to thin with. in most cases when thinning conventional oil-based products the proper thinner is going to be mineral spirits or naptha (sometimes called benzine or v.m.& p. naptha) NEVER NEVER NEVER NEVER USE GASOLINE.EVER... and unless your data sheet specifically calls for it, don't use acetone either...aside from the obvious safety risk (flammability is actually increased when atomizing products thinned with volatile solvents such as gasoline and acetone) and the health risks from breathing the vapors of these known carcinogens, these solvents are too hot to thin alkyd (oil-base) paints - they will attack and dissolve the resin leaving a paint film with far less structural integrity than what you expected (or paid for)...typically when spraying oil-based products, thinning - WITH THE APPROPRIATE SOLVENT - is usually about 1/2 pint per gallon of product (or about 5%).
if your gun is not siphoning paint to the tip, it may not be the paint at all. on wagner guns there is a check valve (usually a 2 piece clear tube about 2-3" long) that runs from the top of the cup to the bottom of the gun. inside the junction where the 2 pieces join together is a small (usually clear) flat valve with a stem that needs to be able to move freely within the junction. if the gun wasn't cleaned completely last time it was used, there may be enough residue to cause the valve to stick...if it sticks, your gun will sound as though it's working but won't draw any paint to the tip...
also, if you're spraying latex (water-borne), make sure you've got the right needle (tip) size...with wagner, i believe the right tip for latex is their #3 general purpose needle...any smaller than that may not allow for the more viscous latexes to atomize properly.
i hope this info helps...but even if it doesn't - remember this.NEVER NEVER NEVER NEVER THIN WITH GASOLINE OR ACETONE...EVER!
Other answers:
contact the manufacturer of the paint
contact the manufacturer of the paint
if its intereor paint enamil. you can use a little water. if its for cars. you use paint thinner. add about 1'4 cup to a gallon and that will do the trick. and or put a regulater vaulev on your air hose and it will build to a serten preasure and then give you a controled spr presure. best around 75-100 psi
Acetone, gas, or paint thinner for oil based paints, flowtrol a product sold at any home improvement store, or just plain old tap water for latex paint.
I have been a painter for 20 years
When thinning paint for a paint sprayer use a ster-stick apply thinner little at a time do this in a work pot which would be another 1 gallon can you can purchase at the paint store for 1 or 2 dollors each. Pour half a gallon of paint into the work pot ( Little thinner at a time now ). than bring you paint stick out and when 4 lines run off the stick you are ready ok. Same when useing LATEX use water to break it down the same why. Main thing you want to do before you put into the wagner or any container for spraying is use a paint strainer or pantie hose if you dont use the foot just tie a knot in one end and there you go you have a home made strainer. Now since you have had a problem with it already take apart and clean before you do as i say so it will work the wagner sprayer is a pain because the paint emptys fast so have some cut of old shirts or rags ready because it can be messy.